The town's cell service is also spotty, especially in the north and west corners of town. A proposed cell tower off Old Stagecoach Road could fix that.

That tower would also play a part in a new emergency communication system.

"It's important, but it's not crucial,'' said Dick Aarons, who has headed the committee studying the need to create a better emergency communications system in town -- improvements that could cost more than $4 million.

The town could use other locations for antennas and transmitters to bolster that system, Aarons said. But being able to use a commercial cell tower would make more sense.

Ray Vergati, site design manager for Homeland Towers -- the Danbury-based company that would build the proposed structure -- said the company filed its proposal with the state Siting Council.

That agency has final say on cell tower locations and construction.

Vergati said by filing the plans, the siting council will now schedule a full public hearing on the project. It will include a site walk, floating a balloon over the site to see how the 150-foot tower would look in the landscape, and a hearing that will allow town officials, intervenors and the general public to speak.

Vergati said the council will probably hold the hearing in the spring. It could make a decision on the project by mid-year, he said.

Marconi said the town, faced with many capital projects, may hold off on the communications system overhaul for a year to see whether the tower gets built.

But Aarons said the town could move on improving the town's overall emergency communications without the tower in place.

"They are two separate issues,'' he said.

And while other capital projects are looming -- including the construction of a new police headquarters and a new fire house -- Aaron said having a good emergency communications system may be the project with the most urgency.